An Alternative Aluminum-copper Galvanic Cell Model for Aluminum Ion Battery Systems Using CuO Nanoparticles in Acidic Mixture Electrolyte

A Novel Al-Cu galvanic cell in high chloride acidic aqueous electrolyte has been developed as an alternative to already existing aluminum ion battery systems. An acid electrolyte aqueous system with 3% NaCl and 1000 ppm CuO NPs (synthesized by chemical precipitation) was chosen, and the performance of the galvanic cell was evaluated by measuring its internal electrolytic resistance, specific capacity, and cell potential. These cell parameters were then compared with unmixed and uncharged CuO NPs electrolytic systems. When compared to a system without CuO NPs system, a single pair system with CuO NPs shows a 6.6-time drop in electrolytic resistance, while for three-pair cell charged system connected in series shows a maximum cell potential of 1610 mV and a 1.94-time decrease in electrolytic resistance. The presence of CuO NPs in the electrolyte and its cathodic depolarization effect (decrease of hydrogen overvoltage and stabilization of the electrolyte), are responsible for the improvement in cell performance for both single and three-pair systems.